The History of CinemaWhere the movies came from….

Magic Lanterns

Entertainment before Film….Vaudeville: live stage performance with

different acts put together, such as comedy, singers, acrobat, dancers, magicians, etc.

Carnivals/Amusement ParksPeepshows: pornographic images shown in a

coin-operated book (evolved into films)Magic Lanterns: slide projector that would

show different stories or create backgrounds for performances (vaudeville, theatre)

Entertainment before Film….Parks/Beaches/BoatsTheatre (plays)ConcertsBooksStreetcar (trip to downtown)SportsRadio: serials (short radio plays that were a

weekly show, usually very dramatic; evolved into films)

Family Events: games, make believe, etc.

Photographic RootsThe work of photographer Eadweard

Muybridge

Creating Motion

Inventors of CinemaMuch debate about who actually

invented itDifferent countries and

scientists/artists were all working on film

The following people are some of the leaders in the development of film’s technical growth

Thomas EdisonAmerican, 1847-1931Invented the phonograph

(record player)In 1891 he invented the

kinectoscope: which used 35mm film and projected it forone person to watch

Very racy/provocative images

Max SkladanowskyGerman1863-1939Invented the bioskop:

a device used to project film; done with two projectors to make up the needed speed

Credited with showing the first films to a paying audience

Auguste and Louis LumièreFrenchAuguste (1862-1954)

& Louis (1864-1948)Invented the

cinematographe: a device that worked as a movie camera, film developer and film projector

Scenes of everyday people

Lumière’s Cinematographe

This technology is what took off, being reproduced around the world and made the Lumière brothers leaders in the development of film.

Enter Cinematic ArtWith the technology in place, filmmakers

became more artistic and the movie became extremely popular.

Many films were thought to be very controversial, showing intimate (personal) situations, violence, drama and stories.

Important early filmmakers include: George Méliès, Edwin S. Porter, and D. W. Griffith

Georges MélièsGroundbreaking film

director Often referred to as the

“Cinemagician”Science-fiction/fantasyDiscovered many

special effects• A Trip to the Moon (1902) was the first film to explore these ideas. Impacted film for its:• Special effects/technical developments• Imagination’s role in filmmaking• Film as escapism (a way to escape the everyday of

our lives)

Edwin S. PorterAmerican, 1869-1941Worked at Thomas Edison’s studiosThe Great Train Robbery (1903) – one of the

most important and influential films because of:How it was shot out of order and then edited

laterEstablished many clichés that would be used in

westerns in following yearsWas a huge hit, proving that money could be

made from films as an industryHow dramatic and suspenseful it was

Edwin S. PorterThe Great Train Robbery, 1903

D. W. GriffithAmerican, 1875-1948Known as the “father of film” and the “master

storyteller of film”Famous for his epic films: stories with a

grand narrative (big story; usually historical subject matter), lavish (fancy) sets and costumes, many extras (people who are in the movie without being actual characters)

D. W. GriffithBirth of a Nation (1915)

Story about the American Civil WarExtremely controversial then and now for its depiction of

history and racial issuesWas protested by theatres and audiences Sparked many riots, even a lynchingConsidered one of the first, major feature films (films that

are longer than one hour)Intolerance (1916)

Response to Birth of a NationCost to make it was huge for that timeFocuses on the effects of hate and intolerance of the

world and its people